Just a normal day in lockdown – well, not quite. This morning I woke before 5am and remembered I had to do a covid test before 8am, because the courier was due to collect it between 8am and 6.30pm. As I was awake, I thought I might as well do it then; so I did. It was quite unnecessarily complicated, as it was the other half-dozen times I’ve done it – even the box you put it in has to be constructed, and I have to work it out painstakingly every time. If I was actually ill, I’m not sure I would be able to do it. But I’m not – I had been selected randomly as part of a study; so it took me well under an hour. I couldn’t get back to sleep, of course (nor could my wife), and shortly after 7.30am I received a text message saying it would be picked up between 2.30pm and 6pm. Very helpful. I wonder how many billion pounds it cost setting that up.

Now it’s just after 10am, and I’m feeling very tired. Dot is waiting for her friend Anne to come and join her in a walk, which is now legal, apparently. It’s not quite raining.

I’ve had a bit of a bad back for a few days, which is annoying. It got worse after we discovered the freezer had broken down. It was probably not the discovery, which happened late on Sunday evening, but the extracting of various items and shifting the freezer away from its slot in the boiler room. I don’t know why I did that. Anyway, we salvaged a few items, threw some away and cleaned out the waterlogged appliance. Dot did that bit. I took some fish cakes round to Judy’s, who I happened to be speaking to on the phone the next day.

On the way back I called in at the Rosary and found that the flowers on my parents’ grave were looking good, despite the wind and rain of previous days. The weather seemed mild, but when I went out later with Dot we found there was a bitter breeze. Misled, I had not taken my hat. We walked over the Julian bridge and into Mountergate, then did the small circle through the Close and into Bishopgate. Later we ate some fish from the freezer, and I did a quite detailed response to the latest idiotic traffic plan, which includes closing Thorpe Road to cars coming into the city and making St Matthew’s Road and Chalk Hill Road one-way (going up). It’s only a question of time before they make Aspland Road one-way.

Obviously the plans will make our journey home from the east longer and more liable to hold-ups, but that doesn’t matter if it’s easier for cyclists. Not very green, as I pointed out. Interestingly I had just had a chat on the doorstep with our local city councillor, a nice bloke called Ben, who is probably Green (strangely, he didn’t say). We agreed on just about everything, including the traffic plan.

Let me run through the last few days, which included the annually significant three – Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Thursday – some heavy showers – was the anniversary of my mother’s death. Friday – more showers and windy – was Phil’s birthday. And Saturday – same again – was the anniversary of my father’s death. On Thursday I walked up to the Rosary and for the first time I can remember since my uncle Paul’s, there was a funeral in progress. As it ended there was a particularly heavy shower, but happily by then I had reached the shelter of the chapel porch, where I chatted to a couple of workmen. Later I wrote my website piece and we watched the film Margin Call, which was about a Wall Street crash situation and was pretty good. You could almost see how it might have happened.

On Friday we took the car to deliver Phil’s presents (on the doorstep), then put a card through Howard’s door and drove up to the chemist to pick up Dot’s prescription. Afterwards we walked on Mousehold (the nearer side), which was bit muddy. I felt quite tired and had a bad stomach pain as we neared the car, but it was very short-lived. Later Dot had fish and chips, and I did an omelette. We watched a couple of films – Lady Macbeth (artistically excellent but not uplifting) and The Man Who Would Be King (a ripping yarn written by Rudyard Kipling and made a success by Sean Connery and Michael Caine).

Unusually we spent Saturday morning reading the papers. I walked on my own up to Bishopgate in the afternoon, and down a little path at the back of the bridge where I’d never been before. Got a couple of interesting photos. Later Amy FaceTimed us. I watched England beat France 23-20 at rugby – quite a good game – then we watched Another Year, a Mike Leigh film in which nothing much happened, but it was absolutely brilliant. Great performance by Lesley Manville as an office worker past her best (though she still looked pretty good to me) who tried desperately to fit in but couldn’t. The final scene, in which no words were spoken except in the background, was stunning. Highly recommended.

Sunday was strange. Still rainy, had a bad night and felt wiped out. I read in the bath for quite a while, then we watched Norwich beat Sheffield Wednesday 2-1, followed by the second half of India beating England at T20 (or toytown cricket, as Paul Henderson and I call it). As we had paid for a NOW TV pass, Dot then watched a bit of the Spurs match, in which they lost to Arsenal but scored a brilliant goal through Lamela. I led our Zoom service, and David FaceTimed, though not at the same time. We discussed a number of books. Watched the end of the Finnish thriller The Man in Room 301, which was pretty good, with a pleasing finish (ho, ho). The same could not be said of Bloodlands, in which setting up a sequel was obviously a priority.

Still here, though at times it seems hard to register the fact. This might mean I have mental health issues, because most people seem to nowadays, but in fact I think it’s just the temporary effect of having my movements restricted. Bit like being in Moscow, post-revolution, or in East Berlin when the Wall was up. These two examples spring to mind because I’m reading an excellent book called A Gentleman in Moscow and have just started watching a very good TV series called Deutschland 1989.

At least I’m not in hospital. Our friend Harriet was in with a heart attack this last week, but is now out with a stent. Dot and I are both more or less OK, though the appalling weather yesterday didn’t help: it was raining hard most of the day, and cold and windy too. Today the sky is a little brighter, but it’s still very windy, and the rain isn’t far away. I’m still waiting for my voluntary covid test pack, and can’t log into the Boots site to fix the eye test they want me to have.

It’s no wonder I’ve taken to watching old films. This week we saw Brighton Rock, based on the Graham Greene book, and featuring Richard Attenborough as a 17-year-old who looked about 35. I guess people aged faster in those days. Good fit, if you can forgive the lack of subtlety, and an excellent ending. But then Graham Greene was a brilliant writer. Last night we watched In the Loop, a sort of sequel to the TV series The Thick of It, which was scintillating but depressing, and not just because of the continual cursing. No, I know it’s not an old film.

Last Friday was Doreen’s birthday, and the day Oliver had his vaccination. He seems to have had no side-effects. Both grandchildren are of course back at school now. Dot was busy recording music and having a Zoom meeting with one of her head teachers; otherwise we would have gone to North Walsham. Instead we went the next day. I was a bit nervous, because it was neither local nor essential, strictly speaking, but of course we posed no threat to anyone. We called at Sainsbury’s in NW and then went to the cemetery to place flowers. Beautifully sunny and calm. On the way home we had a look at the bungalow Roger and Debbie are buying in Spenser Avenue, close to the high school, and then put some flowers on Mum and Dad’s grave. Dot walked home from there.

In the afternoon we watched Norwich beat Luton 3-0 to go ten points clear at the top of the table. David and Chrissy FaceTimed to show us their new furniture – donated to them by Barbara and Roger, who are having a major refit. The next day Spurs won 4-1; so a good weekend, football-wise.

On Sunday, as well as our Zoom service, we watched The Godfather, which we had never seen. Very long film, but extremely good, and we really enjoyed it. On Monday Dot had a long Zoom with Barbara Vidion about expanding the P4C material for use online, and in the afternoon, although it was raining slightly, we fulfilled an appointment with Janet Bower, who was on one of her expeditions into the city (she lives in the wilds of Taverham). We met her at Pull’s Ferry and then walked her up to the Rosary, which she was keen to see. We gave her a kind of guided tour in less than ideal conditions, but she seemed to enjoy it. I think we got more (general) information from her than we imparted ourselves. I was very tired by the time we reached our house, and of course we couldn’t invite her in; so Dot accompanied her back to the Close, where her car was parked.

Afterwards we watched a lot of TV. I sent some poems to the Suffolk Poetry Society magazine. Don’t know if they’ll publish them. I’ve been writing a lot recently, partly because as part of Lent I’ve been trying to compose something every day after we read a Psalm together and pray. This seems to prompt other poems too.

On Tuesday the weather was still fairly spring-like, and again the milk was either not delivered or stolen from the step. I suspect the latter: it happened again today, and I think we’ll have to cancel deliveries. Pity. I did think of doubling our order and seeing if the thief would take one bottle and leave us the other, but Dot is not keen on this idea. She cleaned up the utility room while I did the charity money, and after lunch we walked to the sorting office and then round to Morrisons, mainly to buy some birthday cards. It’s Phil’s birthday tomorrow – which means that today is the day my mother died, and Saturday is the day my father died.

Dot extended her walk to King Street, buying a take-away coffee and drinking it on a seat by the Julian bridge while I walked straight home, still tired from the day before. As well as Brighton Rock, we watched The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, a Narnia story that was very well done indeed. Highly recommended.

Yesterday, as I said, winter returned, and I did the lowest number of steps I’ve done for a long time. Obviously we didn’t leave the house. Roger and Debbie dropped in so that we could sign their wills: it was nice to see them. In the afternoon we did a Virtual Tour of Elm Hill, Tombland and the Cathedral led by a very soggy Paul Dickson. Brave of him to go ahead with it. Later David and Chrissy FaceTimed us; they seemed happy. In the evening we watched the latest episode of The Terror, based on Franklin’s expedition to find (or not find) the North-West passage. I suspect it’s not very good, really.

Dot has just taken advantage of a sunny interval to walk up to the sorting office to post a letter. I am staying in in case Des delivers our groceries, but intend to go out later, unless the weather deteriorates.

Not a very exciting day today. Very cold (a north wind), and intermittent rain. No plans to go for a walk. Our grocery has been delivered, and Dot has been walking in the garden. Briefly. I have registered for a survey that includes taking another covid test, following an invitation from the NHS. Looked at a couple of holiday cottages in Suffolk, but decided to put it off.

Last Friday seems a long time ago. We watched a brilliant film called Bringing up Baby, which featured Audrey Hepburn in amazing form. I didn’t know she was that good. Earlier I walked up to the Rosary while Dot did the garden: there was some tree work going on in the Rosary – not entirely sure what, possibly thinning out at the very top. Dot had fish and chips, and we watched Vera because it’s soothing.

Saturday was sunny again, and we got up late. After lunch we went for a walk on Mousehold and got pretty tired. Also had a cup of tea in Chris and Des’s driveway; it was just warm enough to chat comfortably. After that we watched The Plank, which was extremely funny, and later a modern film called Edie, starring Sheila Hancock as an old widow (83) who wanted to climb a mountain. It was surprisingly good, made even more so for us, because they used the rather esoteric hotel in Lochinver that we stayed at a couple of years ago. The mountain, of course, was Suilven – not tremendously high but quite inaccessible. Apparently SH actually climbed it; so perhaps I could… Probably not; so I wrote a poem about it instead.

My book got a euphoric response from Joy McCall, but then she is on my wavelength. Very encouraging, though. She put it on Facebook, which is more than I did. I have sent it to a few people.

It was extremely foggy first thing on Sunday, and quite chilly. I had a bath and finished Heather’s book, then wrote to her about it. Not the sort of thing I’d normally read, but quite nicely done, if you’re interested in cultural sexism. Norwich beat Wycombe Wanderers 2-0, and I led a Zoom service, with Dot doing the prayers. Howard preached. In the afternoon we walked round Bishopgate and the cut-through. Amy got in touch, and Dot spent quite a time on the phone to Anne.

Monday was cold but dry. I walked up to the postbox to post a few books, but that was it. Dot had a longish Zoom with Barbara about P4C, and a PCC meeting in the evening. We also had a conversation with the Evetts. I had a strange moment when I stepped outside the front door and suddenly realised it was completely quiet: no motor vehicles, nothing – and we are in the middle of a city. It was about 11pm.

The next day was still cold but dry. Dot had a Zoom violin lesson, and after lunch we both walked to the Greens’ to deliver some music – met Howard coming out of a neighbour’s house, then met Maureen (from No 6 ) at the bottom of the road and Sarah, who was popping into Mark’s. He is in Alabama again. I booked a couple of days at Blakeney while the Evetts are there, and a check-up at the dentist in about three weeks’ time. In the evening we had a chat with David and Chrissy (it was her birthday). They seemed to be having fun. Started watching a new Scandi Noir (Finnish this time), and saw the end of Marcella, which didn’t impress me. Almost everyone in it was borderline insane, and by the end conveniently dead, except for Marcella herself (spoiler alert) and a baby she had taken from its shot mother to replace the one she’d lost in an earlier series. Completely unconvincing.

I’ve started reading the book that Dot was very keen on: A Gentleman in Moscow. It’s very well written and heart-warming in the best possible way. Funny, too. The weather yesterday was very cold, but no wind at all. Posted a card and went to the Rosary with Dot, saying hello to our “mate” who does maintenance there. Norwich beat Brentford 1-0. Pukki missed a couple of sitters. I cooked the Hello Fresh meal while Dot watched the first half, and we watched the second half together. Watched the first two episodes of The Terror, a much-hyped series about Franklin’s ill-fated attempt to find the north-west passage. Not sure how they’re going to stretch it over ten episodes.

Beautifully sunny this Friday morning. I’ve already had a bath and been to the post office to send off a couple of my poetry books to friends. This costs £1.53 a time because each one is five grams over the limit for normal second class. The sorting office was closed; so I went to the post office at Budgens, where I discovered you couldn’t buy £1.53 stamps; so I’ve come back with a selection that may or may not add up. Like Government covid figures, really.

On Monday, after my Zoom session with Rob and Peter, we watched Suspicion, starring Cary Grant, who is always good value – but I don’t think the film really worked. Am also getting a bit fed up with Marcella, a TV series set in Northern Ireland, because the title character is just too weird. Another Northern Ireland series, Bloodlands, starring James Nesbitt, had just started and is far, far better.

Norwich beat Birmingham 3-1 on Tuesday, but didn’t play particularly well and looked as if they could lose it in the first half. I think Farke gave them a heavy pep talk at half-time. Earlier Dot went up to the garden centre. We watched the start of the new season of Unforgotten, which is pretty good, as far as I can remember 🙂

The next day we did a lot of work in the garden. I cut back all the roses outside the back door and spent ages squeezing them into the brown bin – almost a miracle. Multiple cuts, but probably not serious… Dot also cut the roses at the front and did a lot of tidying up. Later we both had a bath, though not simultaneously.

This was a big day, because while looking for the cricket on All4 I stumbled across P’Tang, Yang, Kipperbang, a brilliant film which I had been sort of looking for for some time. It’s the ultimate feelgood movie, so beautifully written and acted it made you want to laugh and cry at the same time. If anyone ever reads this blog, I urge you try to watch it. Dot and I watched it, and I’m happy to say she liked it about as much as I did.

We also managed to squeeze in our regular Compline, again with a full attendance, plus the first day of the third Test against India, in which England managed 112 all out. This was matched only by the second innings, when they achieved 81 all out, losing by ten wickets. They did manage to get India out for 145, but took no wickets in their second innings. The abject batting was matched only by pathetic complaints about the pitch (they won the toss and chose to bat) and on-field complaints about the umpiring, which was excellent, considering the conditions. They complained about a “catch” by Stokes that was given not out. It clearly touched the ground – bit surprised at Stokes, who is usually very fair-minded and walks when he knows he’s out.

Yesterday I did an online session with the Norfolk Record Office about how to use their new online catalogue. This would have been slightly better if they hadn’t assumed that everyone knew how to use their old online catalogue, but still it was useful and came with a workbook containing full notes. After lunch Dot and I went up to the garden centre and bought some new tools for pruning (note the excellent timing – we did the pruning the day before) plus various other things, including a sack of birdseed and some cards. Afterwards we went for a walk on the dark side of Mousehold, stumbling on St William’s Chapel remains. All very beautiful, but of course lots of people and a fair number of dogs. We did manage to find some quiet spots.

Watched the end of The Bay, which pulled up rather sudden but was pretty good, and the second episode of Elizabeth R, an old series starring Glenda Jackson that’s beautifully done, though amusingly pedestrian, or should I say equestrian. Lots of scenes with people walking and riding. One or two shots reminiscent of Monty Python, but still very well worth watching.

Have just discovered that Helen Champion, the brilliant manager at Andrew’s care home in Coventry, is leaving next week. Very sad news: she is a superb organiser and extremely kind. Things are changing all round. Phil rang the other day to say they had a place at Eckling Grange in Dereham, and they would probably be moving in May or June. He is a bit stressed about everything that has to be done before then, but who wouldn’t be? The same morning Dot’s cousin Roger rang to say that he and Debbie would be moving to North Walsham. They have been living at Heartsease, but Debbie is retiring (her eyes are very bad), and North Walsham has many advantages for them, as well as being his birthplace, of course. Su Lee is moving from Bacton after many years (I worked with her on the EDP), and of course Lucy is moving from Bowthorpe to Horstead.

Today I had a Zoom meeting with Rob and Peter about the future of the Paston Heritage Society. Bit unclear about what’s going to happen, but Rob is putting together some proposals, which involve him stepping down as chairman and possibly the PHS being dissolved. But we shall see. It’s hard to get people interested in being members, let alone trustees. I am likely to step down too at the end of the year, at least as an active member.

When the batteries in my PINsentry went flat mid-transaction this morning, Dot and I went for a walk and called in at Boots and Morrisons to get replacements. I wasn’t too happy at what was on offer, though they eventually turned out to be the right ones, and Dot went back for them while I was Zooming. But on the way back first time we bumped into Paul Dickson on the Julian Bridge: he is now doing virtual tours online, and we’re going to tune into one on Wednesday. May be able to persuade him to do a Paston one.

Meanwhile Robin has sent me his logbook of the yomps we did between 1996 and 2000, which proved very interesting as well as containing a very unflattering picture of me. I have submitted four tanka to the “On a Knife Edge” project being run by some Lettering organisation which is working with the Suffolk Poetry Society. I was persuaded to get my finger out by Lynne Nesbit, who is the copy editor for the project.

On Saturday Norwich won 1-0 against Rotherham, but should have won about 5-0. Thanks to other top championship teams losing unexpectedly, it turned out to be a very, very good result. Sadly Spurs have not yet come out of their poor run, though they played well in the second half yesterday against West Ham, losing 2-1.

Dot and I have been doing quite a lot of walking, much of it involving the Rosary. The weather is extremely spring-like. I was actually too warm on a couple of the walks. Yesterday I preached on Zoom at our church meeting. Bit odd because of the lack of visible reaction (no eggs or tomatoes). Later watched Finding Alice, a TV serial that seemed particularly pointless. Surprised Keeley Hawes went for it. Have finished reading Born Bad, a book on original sin by James Boyce, who used to come to St Augustine’s before returning to Tasmania. Interesting book, though I have one or two questions…

The snow has utterly vanished, and today it’s quite pleasantly mild and bright, though rain is predicted for later. It’s only 11am, and already I’ve been to the chemist’s to pick up my repeat prescription, to the printer’s to take delivery of my poetry books, and to the Rosary and Lion Wood to get my steps up after a day in yesterday. Quite a thrill seeing my poetry books, Under Cover of Day – 50 of them altogether – all snug in their package.

Back to last Friday. I dug the car out from under a pretty thick coating of snow and took it for a test drive, then returned to pick up Dot and her hearts for delivery to the church hall. No problem with any of this. The roads were pretty clear – even Aspland Road was easily drivable. Fred rang up as I was backing out of the drive; so I rang him back later to discover he had prostate cancer, though happily at an early, treatable stage. He is having radiotherapy. Also spoke to David and Julia about holidays; they have now booked a week in Blakeney for June, but I am a bit uncertain as to what to do, because I don’t want to mess up any Canadian plans.

Later we watched Young Guns, which I have to say was a pretty good western, if you like westerns, which I do.

Had a long chat with Lucy on Saturday about the Paston Heritage Society. She is moving from Bowthorpe to Horstead in a couple of months. Norwich beat Stoke 4-1, rediscovering their ability to shoot. Later we watched It Always Rains on Sunday, an old film set in the East End. I thought it was brilliant, catching the mood of the time perfectly, and starring Googie Withers, who is truly wonderful, despite her name.

Sunday was Valentine’s Day, and Dot sneakily made me a card, as well as sending me an e-card using her Jacqui Lawson account. I got her breakfast in bed, and we listened to the last of Virginia Mary Rolf, Season 2. We decided to skip Season 3. We had a Zoom service at the usual time, and a “proper” meal at the table! In this case it consisted of trout pate and flatbreads as a starter, one of our favourite soups as main, and a fruit salad afterwards. All accompanied by a rather nice rosé, which we demolished between us. Amy FaceTimed, and so did Andrew, who is not too well with a possible urinary tract infection. We watched the last episode of The Serpent, which was excellent.

By Monday it was definitely warmer, and nearly all the snow had melted. We watched India demolishing England on a turning pitch in the Second Test, and had a long chat with David and Chrissy on FaceTime. We posted Rosie’s birthday card and went for a walk down past the railway cottages and back along the river.

On Tuesday and Wednesday I wrote my Parish Pump pieces on Marcus Aurelius, Robert Walpole, Graham Greene and the Peak District. Went for a late walk on Tuesday – after a pancake lunch – up to the roundabout, down to the lights and then back down Riverside Road. In the evening I had a two-hour Zoom session with the Jurnet poets, including two or three from the USA, one from South Cambridgeshire and one from Korea. Bit of a mixed bag. I read Compline: the theme was Light and Dark.

Dot has been struggling with a bad back; so had had to restrict her violin practice. This is improved now, but she has a problem with the muscle in her neck, which can be quite painful. Oddly, I have an almost exactly similar problem, making it difficult to look right and causing a bit of a headache. It couldn’t be a side-effect of the vaccination, could it? That was four weeks ago now.

Yesterday I finished my sermon, and we watched Norwich beat Coventry 2-0, playing very well in the first half and a bit ineptly in the second, for some reason. England lost to India at cricket. We went to bed early because we were both feeling rather sorry for ourselves. I haven’t slept well for the last two nights. Perhaps it’s Lent-related… As part of St Augustine’s Way we are reading through some Psalms, and I’m having a go at writing some poems.

Very cold week, with snow cover persisting. On Tuesday there was a bit of blue sky with occasional snow showers, and we went for a walk before lunch, posting a letter and then venturing into the Rosary, which of course looked beautiful. No milk had been delivered; so Dot popped into shop on Rosary Road. No bins emptied either: we have just heard that the blue one will be emptied tomorrow and the brown one not at all. The road does look a bit dodgy.

In the evening we had a CNSOB Zoom meeting, which featured a general ineptness. Even the organiser, who is a nuclear physicist, didn’t seem to know what he was doing as far as screen-sharing was concerned. Lots of time wasted. My contribution on Westray was not particularly inspiring, but Fred’s was interesting. Adrian of course did a full-scale Powerpoint production, exceeding the time limit. He could have taken all evening, and probably should have. Meanwhile Dot was FaceTiming with Amy, which was almost certainly more interesting.

I think it was on Tuesday that we watched Jaws, which featured a large shark that these days looked decidedly wooden. However the film’s depiction of idiot authorities who put making money before people’s safety seemed up to date. I wasn’t entirely clear, though, why councillors should be urging people to get in the sea when they were already on the beach. You can’t buy things in the sea.

Wednesday was very sunny, with a deep blue sky. Still very cool, though snow was being melted by the sun. The Hello Fresh guy drove up the road with no trouble, but reversed all the way down. We watched The Thomas Crown Affair, which was a delight: very cleverly done and well acted, with Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo. Also had a Compline session, which went well, though Kim couldn’t join us. Saw highlights of superb FA Cup game between Everton and Spurs, which sadly Everton won 5-4.

It was sunny again yesterday, and at one point Dot and I were standing in the utility room doorway, enjoying the sun’s warmth on our faces. However, it was still very cold generally, and the previous night had seen extremely low temperatures all over the country, notably –23C in Braemar. The pavements were extremely slippery; so we resisted the temptation to go for walk. Des brought round the groceries, and Dot and I did some reading in the afternoon, which was unexpectedly nice. I am nearing the end of Clive James’ Poetry Notebook.

Dot has a dodgy back, and my neck is painful if I get it in the wrong position. Later we watched Crimson Tide, a good nuclear sub thriller, and most of The Lost City of Z, a film about an explorer in the Amazon. We saw the end of it this morning: interesting but by no means perfect, though that would have been difficult when the subject matter is true, but no-one knows what happened at the end. David FaceTimed, which was slightly less surreal.

So it’s now Friday. Still extremely cold, though it shouldn’t last much longer if we are to believe the forecasters. Des is getting Dot some fish and chips tonight: too fatty for me, unfortunately. At some point we are supposed to be taking up some hearts to the church hall to be put in the windows for Valentine’s Day with reassuring messages. As I write, Dot is creating them.

Well, the snow has arrived, despite predictions from someone who shall remain nameless (Matt W) that we would never see snow again in Norfolk. It made a weak appearance yesterday, then a more determined approach during the night. Today we have a convincing covering, and I have to say that it looks quite attractive.

We got up late this morning and have had a fairly relaxing day, though I have put the bins out, bumping into Margaret, Michael and Mary (at a distance). Des and Mark have shovelled the pavement and their footpaths: you can see who pulls their weight around here, and who just waits for it to thaw. (Me.)

Yesterday we had a Zoom church meeting as usual. I led it, and Anna did a really good talk on a Psalm and Isaiah 40. Pretty much a full complement, including Martin, who had previously sent a message saying he wasn’t into computer worship. I didn’t even start to reply.

I had a surprise phone call today from Maurice Brown, one of our CNS group who I think I worked with at the City Hall in 1963-65. He had a chess query, which came as a bit of a surprise. He wanted to know how many Queens you could have on the board, because his set came with only one. Tricky. Meanwhile I have just beaten Oliver on time because he forgot to reply. I was two pawns up, but he had some interesting possibilities.

It’s very cold, what with the snow and everything. Another Beast from the East, apparently. Dot and I are watching cricket highlights on All 4 on my iPad because we had difficulty getting it on the TV. It actually comes over very well on the iPad.

It rained most of the day on Saturday; so we stayed in. I sorted out another tray of paper, which was quite heartening, and Dot wrote her P4C stuff for David’s platform, with a little editing help from me. Dot had long phone calls with Anne and with Julia Higbee, and I scraped over 4000 steps by walking up and down the kitchen. Dot has had a bit of a back ache for a few days, which is worrying, though she usually gets over such things quite quickly. If only Verena were available! David and Chrissy FaceTimed us in the evening, and we had quite a long talk. Spurs won and Liverpool lost; so quite a good day. Norwich had lost 2-0 to Swansea on Friday evening, which wasn’t so good.

Meanwhile we have been researching our family trees, and Dot got a reply from someone related to the Myhills (Dot’s great-grandmother was Ruth Myhill). Apparently they may have originated in the north of England. Another more mysterious connection seems to be with Northern Ireland, but we’re waiting for news of that.

Zoom meeting for church went well on Sunday evening. Getting quite used to it, worryingly. On Monday it was still cold, but we had some sun in the afternoon and went for a walk together to the Rosary, plus a little bit extra on the way back. Spoke to the Evetts on the phone; also, unexpectedly, Pat Burgess from church. Des came over in the evening to get back the book he’d lent us by Tom Bower on Jeremy Corbyn. He wanted to return it to the person who’d lent it to him… Finished reading the Antlers book on Scotland: some really interesting stuff in the second half, particularly a piece about the far north (Ben Loyal), and one on the island of Mingulay, near Barra. 

Tuesday was milder, but we didn’t go out, partly because it was rather damp. Instead I sorted out the books that had been ousted from the shelves now hidden behind a wardrobe in the guest bedroom, and then we took down the Christmas decorations, because it was Candlemas. Strange how much lighter the house seems, presumably because it’s now uncluttered. Put the decorations in the attic, which Dot cleaned up while she was there. Later watched Norwich draw 0-0 with Millwall in another dreary game. On the plus side, I sent off my poetry book to the printers, and we watched a brilliant old film called The Train, set at the end of the second world war. 

Wednesday was still reasonably mild. We received a delivery from Naked Wines, but no Hello Fresh this week, which makes a surprising difference. Dot had a Zoom meeting with a head, so I had a late bath, then sorted out some papers, which was quite satisfying. Later we picked up a proof copy of my book from the printers, then walked round Pilling Park and down the road and back. Dropped Dot off at Boots, and she walked home. 

Yesterday was sunny and quite warm in the morning; so we went for a walk to the Rosary before lunch, and sat in the sun for a while. Strange sensation! We then picked up the groceries from Des and changed all the bed sheets. Watched The Dig on Netflix. This is about Sutton Hoo and had been widely praised. Glad to say it was indeed excellent. Ralph Fiennes was excellent as the man who found and excavated it and was then treated appallingly by the experts because he wasn’t an academic.

I gave the go-ahead for the poetry book, then Dot and I investigated her DNA and found a possible link with someone from Belfast. Have contacted, rather nervously, the owner of that tree. There seems little doubt that Dot’s DNA is Celtic, by a very large majority, and no English at all. What was going on in Glasgow 75 years ago?

We’ve been watching four series on TV in which the lead character is a rather neurotic woman (to varying degrees). Must be the in thing. We’ve just finished watching The Drowning on Channel 5, and it was pretty dreadful. The plot and motivations were very shaky, and possibly as a result the acting was unconvincing. No sympathy for lead character at all.

Sunny again today, and after a fairly productive morning we went for a walk after lunch, round the Cathedral up to the top of the Close and then back to Pull’s Ferry and along the path. Spent some time trying to find the cricket on All 4, and when we did, the Broadband link was fragile; so we decided to try it later.

Woke up this morning to a blue sky, which is a nice change. Far too much heavy greyness. Still very cold, though. Thin layer of frost on windscreens: of course it’s a week since we’ve been out in the car. Listened to the latest Rolf in bed. Scheduled to lead Zoom service this evening.

Last Wednesday was calm and not too cold. Dot had a DSSO meeting, then baked a chocolate cake  – terrific. Walked alone over both bridges and back along King Street, Rouen Road and down by the Julian cell. Quite tired. Later we watched two very good films: Election and The Wife. Also started watching The Investigation, a Danish police procedural based on a real life crime involving a submarine and a beheading, and you can’t say that very often; so I’ve used it in the heading. We finished watching it (six episodes in all) the next day – really very well done.

It was a lot milder on Thursday. Dot did a walk, but I did 4000 steps indoors. I fInished off my poetry book, though I keep changing the title. I’m thinking about whether I need an isbn number and bar code. Did another Paston letter. 

Friday was a nicer day. Cleared up. Felt a bit ill during the night – dodgy stomach, lot of itching. Did Diabolical sudoku; so can’t be too bad. Also some clearing up. We walked up Bishop Bridge Road and round the cathedral, then back on to BBR and home. Had a nice long FaceTime with Oliver, Amy and Canada, then watched an Endeavour rerun.

Yesterday was damp and much colder. After Norwich drew 0-0 with Middlesbrough in a dull lunchtime game ,we went for a walk and found there was a bitter wind. Nevertheless persevered round by the railway cottages and back after posting a letter. Later we had an hour’s Zoom with Kristine, then watched Shadowlands, which was excellent. Dot has worked out a daily schedule, which is a bit frightening. At least it’s for her and not for me.